Dermatologists Perform Most Facial Reconstructions

Dermatologists experienced in treating cancer have developed expertise in surgical reconstruction. Donaldson and Coldiron analyzed data in the Medicare Physician Supplier Procedure Master File for the period 2004 to 2009 to assess the proportion of cutaneous repairs performed by dermatologists.

Collectively, dermatologists performed more reconstructions than any other specialty, accounting for 75.1% of complex repairs, 60.8% of intermediate repairs, 55.5% of local flaps, and 57.5% of full-thickness skin grafts. Dermatologists were second only to plastic surgeons in the frequent performance of split-thickness skin grafts and interpolation flaps. Overall, on the face and neck, 64.5% of repairs were performed by dermatologists, followed by plas…